By Ariel Casida
“To be an athlete, a strong mindset is key,” said Seiling High School’s Karis Warner. “You need to be positive and resilient, able to handle challenges and bounce back from setbacks. Confidence in yourself and your teammates fosters trust and unity. Being supportive and encouraging helps create a motivating environment. Embracing teamwork and staying focused on shared goals can elevate everyone’s performance. Ultimately, it’s about having a passion for what you do and uplifting each other through every routine.”
Karis is a senior this year and participates in FCCLA, Beta Club, Student Council, FFA, and cheerleading. She has been participating in cheerleading for three years and has learned the importance of teamwork. “In cheerleading, you have to have a strong bond within the team. During stunts, the flyer has to have complete trust that her bases will catch her if she falls. Trusting your team and knowing how to work together is really important,” she says. Her favorite moment in cheerleading was getting to cheer at the State Basketball Championship.
Her favorite subject in school is Biology, because she’s always enjoyed learning about anatomy and the way that the human body works. Her favorite teacher is Ms. Shuck, because she was always a really understanding teacher and made her classroom a safe space for any and all students at the school. For fun, she likes to hang out with friends, go on walks, listen to music, and paddle board. After high school, Karis plans to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University to eventually become a Nurse Practitioner.
When times get tough for Karis, her family and friends keep her motivated. “My best friends are always there for me and they help me to keep going even when I feel like giving up,” she says. She says that her parents are also there to lend a helping hand or provide a shoulder to cry on when she needs it. Her biggest role model is her mom. “She has always shown me how to be a good person, and no matter what, she is always there for me. She lifts me up when I’m sad and makes sure I know that I’m loved. My mom has always been my number one fan,” she says.
Karis’s favorite part about cheerleading is learning new stunts and dance routines. Her advice to her fellow athletes is “to just stay focused and determined; no matter what anyone says or how much you may think that you can’t do it. Just keep going.”
